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*The title of this post was taken from The Beatles song of the same name*

A definition of “revolution“- a sudden, radical, or complete change.

On the evening of January 24, 2008 my life changed.

My son, Jackson, was born that night.

When I think about the ways and the frequency with which my life has changed since Jackson came into this world, I think I’ve been in an almost constant state of a “revolution.”

His mother and I split shortly after he was born.

My grandfather and my uncle (maternal side) passed that summer.

I lost my job.

I graduated college with a 4.0 GPA after some prior failed attempts at completing my degree.

That all happened between March and August of 2008.

I started Revolution Fitness and Therapy in May of 2009.

I met and began dating my (now) wife, Marissa, in December of 2009.

My father passed after a short battle with bone marrow cancer in March 2011.

Marissa and I got married in October 2014.

Life just hasn’t seemed to slow down. To be honest, I’m not sure I’d know what to do with myself if it did.

You’ve no doubt often heard the phrase “lifestyle change” when committing to your goals. As the years have gone on and I’ve attempted to mature, that’s the change I keep trying to impress on my clients at RevFit.

Change is something I’ve grown accustomed to. Especially that “sudden, radical, complete change.”

I digress.

One constant in my life has been my baby boy, Jackson, who is hardly a baby anymore. Jackson remains this almost perpetually happy child who rarely lets anything have a negative effect on him.

My Lego-loving, singing, dancing, bolt of sunshine can brighten up any room you place him in. Autism be damned.

Today, is his 9th birthday.

I’d like you to take a moment to consider what is happening in your life that is in need of a revolution the way we’ve defined it.

What can you no longer deal with?

What do you refuse to accept in its current state?

Many people think of the term revolution and think it means something political.

If you know me, I don’t give a damn about politics.

I care about your change. I care about what you’re going to do about these things in your life that you’re going to change…once and for all.

Find your revolution and start it.

And to my birthday boy, I know that if you ever read these words, you may not understand what your Dad is writing. I am okay with that. It took me a long time to realize what it would take to be the kind of father you deserve.

I had the best father in the world to show me.

You were the start of my revolution.

And I love you so very much. Happy birthday, sweet Jackson.

 

 

 

He’s a world record powerlifter and currently, the acclaimed personal trainer to serial entrepreneur/social media guru, Gary Vaynerchuk. Jordan discusses how his life has changed since taking on this tremendous client. We discuss the travel schedules, the flexibility with programming and even how Jordan has had to change his own training styles. This episode is jammed with incredible information from not only what Jordan is teaching but what he is learning as well. To learn more about Jordan, visit http://www.syattfitness.com To learn more about your host, please check out http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends, and take a moment to leave us an iTunes review.

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*The title of this post was taken from the Nirvana song of the same name*

There may (jokingly) be something in my DNA that makes me gravitate towards cheese. My father was born in Holland, so while Gouda is one type I always have a fondness for, I don’t think I will discriminate much when given the chance.

My wife? She’s a cheese junkie. If you told her that her entire diet had to consist of cheese she would be happier than a rat. Oddly enough, she is lactose intolerant but because of the way that cheese is made, it doesn’t normally have the same effect on her that a glass of milk would.

Cheese is certainly a strange food though. While it does have some health benefits because of calcium and protein content it can also be high in saturated fat. Before I start setting off red flags, saturated fat is a fat with some benefits as well as long as it is moderated. Feta, goat cheese and mozzarella would be some options if you need a lower fat option.

The funny thing is: cheese is everywhere. On salad bars, pizza, pastas, sandwiches, subs, in appetizers, in wine bars, hell…for the aficionado, you even get your pick of cheese shops.

All this is fine and good until you realize how little cheese you get just to crack 100 calories. I think it’s a little upsetting.

Yeah…it’s really upsetting.

So, do you strip all of the cheese out of your food plan just to see results?

Not necessarily.

Pick your favorite cheese varieties and keep them at home. If you find yourself craving some cheesy goodness, make sure you enjoy it. Just be mindful of how much you’re actually indulging in.

When you’re out at restaurants, you may be safer to hold the cheese off your meal choice. Since you’re not only battling an amount of cheese you have no control over but the oils/butters your food was prepared with, you could find yourself saving an easy 200-500 calories (more if it’s pizza and you can’t stop at one slice.)

Tactics like these can help in the long run, even if you despise the thought of counting calories.

I’ll leave you with one final reminder: restaurants will find almost any way to add cheese to a meal. The desire for it is that great. A survey done recently averaged that Americans consume 33 pounds of cheese a year.

Shall we do the math?

Approx 100 calories per ounce of cheese (16 oz in a pound) = 52,800 calories in 33 pounds of cheese.

All numbers considered equal for the sake of argument: You could gain 15 pounds by cheese consumption alone if you’re meeting the cheese average in a given year.

So, enjoy your cheese. Truly.

I know I will.

Hopefully not 33 pounds worth.

(Note: conversations about which foods to add in or remove in your diet do not work within a vacuum. If your consumption is in line with your goals and you are continuing to see results, no changes may be needed.)

 

This week, I am solo again for a short and sweet episode to give you some tips for getting closer to your goals. I use the example of a new client and a simple process to keep you focused (or refocused) on what it will take for you to finally succeed at your wellness goals. To learn more about your host, please visit http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and please take a moment to leave an iTunes review.

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*The title of this post is taken from the Eminem song of the same name*

Ken and I had this little joke when we first sat down to talk about his goals.

He has a build like a powerlifter. I have a build like a distance runner.

The joke?

He’s the runner. I hate running. Give me weights.

True to his build, Ken is strong as hell. For a guy who never really put much emphasis into lifting weights, he has a ton of natural strength that we’ve been working on.

However, he didn’t really start training with me to get stronger (although that wasn’t going to be a bad thing if he did.)

Like most of our clients, Ken started with me to lose weight.

Initially, he didn’t drop a lot. We were able to discuss some tips that might help him with his hectic work schedule and he made some changes but nothing too drastic. However, he stayed motivated to continue his workouts because of how he could see his strength levels improve.

He would see me twice a week for strength workouts and, when possible, get some additional cardio in on his alternate days.

Then one day he went out for a leisurely run outside of his home.

No more than 200 yards from home, he fell and accidentally broke his foot.

If memory serves, it was a Sunday morning.

Ken sent me a text as he was leaving the doctor’s office telling me the news.

My kneejerk reaction was to panic a bit. I felt like Ken was starting to get in a groove with the workouts and I really didn’t want him to lose momentum when it felt like he was about to turn a corner.

However, we came up with a game plan.

Even though he would be on crutches to get here, we were going to focus on upper body movements where Ken could at least feel productive and stimulate some muscle. We would work with whatever range of motion and limitations the doctors would give us.

In addition, Ken agreed to pull his caloric intake down even more since he wouldn’t have the option of cardio activity to assist with weight loss.

And what do you know: Ken started losing the weight that had alluded him before his fall.

Now, Ken is back in his normal shoes (with a slight limp), off his crutches and can include even more variety into his workouts.

If you let some fitness pictures and memes guide your motivation, it’s easy to find individuals who are handicapped to some degree and can still get in their workouts. The picture is normally followed by the question “If they can do it, what’s your excuse?”

I don’t really care for the tone of that question even though I know it probably comes from a place of genuine good. Rather than shame someone because of perceived excuses, I would much rather praise someone for committing to their goals.

What I will say is that somewhere along your journey you may get sidetracked by an injury. Some injuries worse than others. While the injury, in and of itself can be discouraging, remember to look at what you CAN do versus what you CAN’T.

Ken has had to temporarily give up one of his favorite exercise activities and is still seeing great results (and will continue to.)

Take a cue from Ken and the title of this post. Don’t back down. Re-align your focus. Concentrate on what you can control. Then control it.

Results will come. They don’t have to be traditional or orthodox. They just have to work for you.

In the meantime, expect more greatness from Ken.

We do.

2017 is here and Rog Law returns to the show! After turning in one of the most entertaining shows since I started (Episode 21), Rog kicks off the year in the best fashion. We talk about how 2016 ended for us and our clients and what 2017 has in store. While we do dial it down a notch from out last episode together, Rog explains why self-reflection and introspection may be the missing links to your success and ultimately what can help you accomplish more this year. To connect with Rog directly, check out http://www.roglawfitness.com To learn more about your host, visit http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and please take a moment to leave us an iTunes review.

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*The title of this post is taken from the KC & The Sunshine Band song of the same name*

It was tempting to write a somewhat obligatory post about New Year, New You (yada yada) but I thought I might take a slightly different approach this time.

This is the time of year where, yet again, many will embark on their gym journey to “take better care of their health” “finally lose those stubborn pounds” “work off the holiday weight”, etc.

One thing that I tend to see a lot of starts from the ground up: with the shoes.

Here’s your handy disclaimer: I make no money off of endorsing any shoe brand and have no vested interest in any of them. I am also NOT a podiatrist.

That aside, I see all likes of shoes on the feet of my clients here at RevFit and while they all serve a purpose, they may not be best suited for the work you’ll do on a gym floor.

I thought I would take a few moments to discuss as simply as possible why you may want to put some more thought into your footwear before you begin your 2017 journey towards better health.

If you plan on running/jogging any distance beyond a mile, I would highly encourage you to go to a running specialty store and be evaluated for shoes based on your arch, gait, etc. While you will likely spend $100-150 for a proper pair, you will save yourself a great deal of anguish by wearing shoes suited just for you and designed for distance running. Bear in mind, there are shoes specifically for track running, trail running and street/treadmill running. It would behoove you to mention the type of running you are planning on doing when you speak to your shoe consultant.

If you happen to be a client of RevFit, come see me directly to hear about special pricing available to you at a local specialty shop.

However, what if you have no intention of running?

When you’re lifting weights, or more specifically: squatting, lunging, pulling weight from the floor (deadlifts or traplifts), you may be better served with a very flat pair of shoes.

You may notice that when you look at a running shoe, there can be a considerable amount of cushioning at the heel. This cushioning might be great for impact work (striking the ground when you run) but terrible for squatting, traplifting, etc.

The reason? Your body is trying to find stability in the cushioning and you might be setting yourself up for ankle, knee or hip problems.

If you’ve been following us on social media, I post a lot of pictures of people pulling a trapbar from the ground. Often, they are in their socks so I don’t have to worry about them dealing with the cushioning in their shoes. The general consensus is that most clients feel more stable and more in control of their lower body when they’re not competing with the “support” their shoes are offering.

While we’re okay with the sock approach here at RevFit, you may not have the same luxury if you train somewhere else. In this case, you may want to consider a minimalist shoe or something very flat like you might find with Converse, Vans, Puma or some Adidas shoes.

Ultimately, this post was written to give you some perspective on what you’re wearing so you have fewer instances of pain starting from the ground up. Many people come through our doors with any shoe that might qualify as a “sneaker” or “tennis shoe.” You’d be amazed at the amount of pain you can feel or even where you might feel pain begin simply because you went to the gym with the wrong shoes and tried to do too much with too little (or not enough.)

So, now that you’ve had a short tutorial on what to wear when you’re gym bound, get those boogie shoes on and get your work in.

Happy New Year from the RevFit family to yours!

(My current boogie shoes, the aforementioned Converse in leather as opposed to canvas.)

 

 

Lou Schuler is one of the most respected and widely published authors in the fitness industry. We talk about some of his bestselling works including the newest “Strong” (with Alwyn Cosgrove), “The New Rules of Lifting” series and his excellent work with Alan Aragon “The Lean Muscle Diet”. Lou shares some of his best practices and motivations for continuing to put out great work in an industry saturated with information. I can’t think of a better way to end an already great year than with a great guest like this one. To learn more about Lou, please visit http://www.louschuler.com To learn more about your host, check out http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and please take a moment to leave us an iTunes review.

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*The title of this post was taken from the Nine Inch Nails song of the same name*

77 episodes and 22 articles and 1 book.

I believe that’s the content I’ve managed to push out over this past year.

77 podcast episodes between the work I do with my good friend, Blake Babcock, on Someone Has To Say It and my own show (Revolutionary You!) where I get the chance to speak to some of the brightest minds in health, fitness, wellness and personal improvement.

Along the way, I’ve tried my best to get out a new article every week since I transitioned my blogging efforts from http://www.revfittherapy.blogspot.com to http://www.jasonleenaarts.com You are more than welcome to visit the former site if you’d like to peruse more of what I’ve written in the past.

There’s also my first published book (The Revolution Is You!) which is available at Amazon or can be special ordered through your bookstore of choice.

I can comfortably say, it’s been quite a year.

I can’t go without mentioning my closed community on Facebook (Lean Arts-The RevFit Community) which has continued to morph and evolve since I started it in the fall of 2015. There you can find even more content, videos, memes, etc. Most importantly, it’s yet another place where I can celebrate the victories of my clients through every step of their relative journeys. Feel free to look us up on Facebook and get yourself added in.

I have ideas of where I want 2017 to go. I have at least the seeds of a vision.

But knowing myself, I’m sure there will be some winding detours and a couple of missteps because that, my friends, is life.

What I do know is that all of you (the readers, the fans, the clients, the vocal, the silent) have been in this with me to help shape it into something greater. Greater than anything I could have ever hoped for.

Business is booming at the Rev, the podcasts continue to be released, the book is still selling, pounds keep dropping. I love it.

As we round out 2016, I owe all of this to you. You help me improve so that I can help you improve. Funny how that works!

I hope that, by and large, your 2016 was as positive of a year for you as it was for me. Certainly there were some bumps and bruises that came along the way but that is to be expected. We all manage to endure and trudge forward.

So, as we pick ourselves up by the proverbial bootstraps and soldier on, I would like to extend yet another expression of gratitude for helping me get here.

I am very much looking forward to 2017 (with bells on, as they say.)

I hope that you are too.

As Trent Reznor so passionately sang in the song referenced in the title:

We’re In This Together.

 

I’m about to wrap up the year and I couldn’t do it without giving a bit of history to how and why the podcast started, what it’s been like and where it’s heading. Tune in to hear about the Top 5 most downloaded episodes and two honorable mentions because they got so close to the Top 5. If you’re a fan of Sarah Campbell, Evelyn Carbsane, Danny Lennon, Shon Christy, Dr. Karl Nadolsky, Leigh Peele, Ian Dunican, Dr. Garth Davis or Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, check this episode out to hear how their shows stacked up. This has been an amazing year for the show and I’m coming up on 52 weeks before we know it. To learn more about your host, please visit http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and please take a moment to leave an iTunes review.

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